Act 1 Scene 3

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been tricked or drugged, because there’s no way she
could have made this mistake on her own.

DUKE

Whoe'er he be that in this foul proceeding

Hath thus beguiled your daughter of herself

70And you of her, the bloody book of law

You shall yourself read in the bitter letter,

After your own sense, yea, though our proper son

Stood in your action.

DUKE

Whoever tricked your daughter and stole her from you will pay for
it. And you yourself will determine the sentence as you see fit, and
impose the death penalty if you choose to, even if the criminal were
my own son.

BRABANTIO

Humbly I thank
your grace.

Here is the man, this Moor, whom now it seems,

75Your special mandate for the state affairs

Hath hither brought.

BRABANTIO

I humbly thank you, sir. Here is the man, the Moor. It seems you
had your own reasons for summoning him here.

ALL

We are very sorry
for’t.

ALL

We’re sorry to hear this.

DUKE

(to OTHELLO)What, in your own part, can you say to this?

DUKE

(to OTHELLO) What do you have to say for yourself?

BRABANTIO

Nothing, but this is so.

BRABANTIO

Nothing, but this is true.

OTHELLO

Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,

80My very noble and approved good masters,

That I have ta'en away this old man’s
daughter,

It is most true. True, I have married her.

The very head and front of my offending

Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,

85And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace,

For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith

Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used

Their dearest action in the tented field,

And little of this great world can I speak,

OTHELLO

Noble, honorable gentlemen whom I serve: it’s true that
I’ve taken this man’s daughter from him and
married her. But that’s my only offense.
There’s nothing more. I’m awkward in my speech
and I’m not a smooth talker. From the time I was seven
years old until nine months ago I’ve been fighting in
battles. I don’t know much about the world apart from
fighting. So I won’t do myself much good by speaking in
my own defense. But if you’ll let me, I’ll
tell you the plain